# Is "Towards Zero" by Agatha Christie a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Towards Zero by Agatha Christie (Dodd, Mead and Company, 1944) is identified by: The true first is the US edition (Dodd, Mead, June 1944), which preceded the UK Collins Crime Club edition (July 1944) by about one month. The true first is US Dodd, Mead (June 1944), preceding UK Collins (July 1944).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The true first is the US edition (Dodd, Mead, June 1944), which preceded the UK Collins Crime Club edition (July 1944) by about one month
- Superintendent Battle
- Publisher imprint reads Dodd, Mead and Company
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Agatha Christie |
| Publisher | Dodd, Mead and Company |
| Year | 1944 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The true first is the US edition (Dodd, Mead, June 1944), which preceded the UK Collins… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
The true first is the US edition (Dodd, Mead, June 1944), which preceded the UK Collins Crime Club edition (July 1944) by about one month. Superintendent Battle.

## Is this the true first?
The true first is US Dodd, Mead (June 1944), preceding UK Collins (July 1944). The official Agatha Christie site confirms Dodd, Mead as the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reprints follow the first editions.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Towards Zero* by Agatha Christie a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/towards-zero
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.